Many people believe you have to spend a lifetime in politics to understand lawmaking or regulatory reform. I disagree — because my own life has shown me otherwise.
Before deciding to run for the Arkansas State House, I served this country in the United States Marine Corps. During that time, I learned something essential: you don’t have to be a politician to understand law — you just have to be willing to read it, apply it, and be accountable to it.
The Marine Corps and the Rule of Law
Military service is built on structure, accountability, and adherence to written standards. Every Marine understands that our actions are guided by more than orders — they’re guided by written regulations, each carrying legal weight.
During my time in service, I worked extensively with:
Marine Corps Orders (MCOs)
These documents govern everything from operations to personnel standards. They are legal directives with clear expectations—and consequences if ignored.
Marine Corps Administrative Directives
These outline procedures, reporting requirements, and compliance rules. They function much like civilian administrative law: detailed, technical, and designed to maintain order, fairness, and efficiency.
Marine Corps Technical Manuals & Maintenance Publications
Maintenance in the Marine Corps is full of regulatory oversight. Technical publications spell out exactly how equipment must be repaired, tested, and documented. Failure to follow them is not simply a mistake—it’s a violation of federal and military standards.
Two Years in Hazardous Materials: My Introduction to Federal Code
In my final years in the Marine Corps, I served in Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT), where the job is entirely governed by law.
I was responsible for ensuring Marines followed:
- 29 CFR (OSHA workplace safety standards)
- 40 CFR (EPA environmental protection regulations)
- 49 CFR (DOT transportation and shipping of hazardous materials)
- Marine Corps maintenance manuals that cross-reference federal law
These are the same federal regulations that businesses, industries, transporters, and state agencies must follow. My daily responsibilities required me not only to read these laws — but to interpret them, teach them, and enforce them.
That experience taught me an important truth:
Law isn’t confusing when you take the time to read it. And red tape isn’t intimidating when you understand where it comes from.
You Don’t Need to Be a Politician to Fight Bad Policy — You Need to Understand It
I have never held political office. But I have spent years living under, working with, and enforcing some of the most complex regulations our federal government produces.
I know what good regulation looks like.
I know what unnecessary red tape looks like.
And I know how bad policy can hurt working people — because I’ve seen it firsthand.
My commitment to Arkansas is simple:
I will read every bill. I will study every regulation. And I will fight for laws that serve the people, not the bureaucracy.
Because I’ve lived under real accountability.
I’ve enforced real laws.
And I know that government works best when leaders actually understand the rules they expect everyone else to follow.